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Welcome!

Welcome!

There are some wonderful people in Lonehill who, on a completely volunteer basis, take care of healthy populations of feral cats, bunnies, goats, dogs etc.  They sometimes share their tales with the Lonehill Community on this Lonehill Animal Welfare News website as they depend on the public for support, donations, volunteering and sharing in their good and not so good news sometimes.
If you have any articles and photos about animal welfare to share with the Lonehill Community, you can contact the webmaster to submit such articles and photos by Tuesday at 12:00 noon.  In the LRA newsletter a link is published weekly to this independent website.  Articles can be any length and photos any size.

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FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER 15 June 2021

Unfortunately last week somehow the following was missed out: “Donations: Thank goodness the food donations are up this week, thanks to all.  Another thank you to Tracy for the beautiful kitten fleece blankets from your plea sent out in your complex.” And this week I would like to add a thank you to the person who dropped off a beautiful fleece cat blanket at my guardhouse, it’s already in use, a huge thank you. Sheryn, your generous financial donation is being put towards Schweppes’ forthcoming eye surgery, she is doing so well and putting weight on weekly and building up her strength.

Monday was a day of very successful trapping. 6 cats were caught from 2 of our colonies. 2 just for their vaccinations in light of the Panleukopenia scare affecting unvaccinated cats and 3 newcomers for vacs and sterilisations. 2 are shown here still in the traps. All were returned to the colonies on Monday evening to a healthy meal and warm bed.

We still have up for adoption Mowgli, our pure black male kitten and Davey (see in the video getting tummy kisses) and Dharma his sister with stunning markings.

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Financial Donations to:
J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846          

Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number” or if for Schweppes’ operation “Schweppes + Cell number”      

Proof of payments to either:  Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com
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CAROLE’S CAT CHRONICLES 9 JUNE 2021

FIRE HEADING

Last week a fire broke out at the Leaping Frog Centre.  The blaze could be seen to be pretty serious and on trying to gain entry on the day, the police and fire engines blocked the entrances and people were being evacuated. The day after we managed to get in and were told by the guards that the fire came from the store room at the back of Checkers supermarket.

Fire at Leaping Frog 1
Fire at Leaping Frog
Shy Kitty
Cat's still hiding

My concern was of course, the cats.  Subsequently we have seen that the majority of the cats have been accounted for.  There are one or two still not showing themselves but I am hoping they were able to escape.  Over the coming days we should be able to do a head count. I went to see the fire damage the day after and it looked very bad.  Some of the roofing had collapsed and the store room building outside was completely burnt out. “The store is now closed until further notice.”  The area where we feed some of the cats is within a few metres of the fire damage.

One of the cats that was hiding when we went to feed, was seen taking refuge and was very nervous to come out.  The volunteers who help me say that they have seen at least 5 other cats around the area and have come to eat when they were feeding at 5.30pm.

There are another four cats that live on the other side of the centre and they are all fine as they are well away from the source of the fire.  In fact, one of the volunteers took some warm milk for them and took a video shot of them.  (Yes we know cats are not supposed to have warm milk, normally, but on this occasion it was a much welcome treat.) Thank you Sandra for this kind gesture.  In this particularly cold weather, the cats were so happy to have this special treat.

Carole
0824242363

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FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER 08 June 2021

This week we had to say goodbye to one of our resident cats, Winter. Winter was first brought to us in early 2018 from BMW in Centurion where as a youngish, tame domestic stray she tried to join a feral colony who would not accept her and constantly attacked her. She was immediately tested upon arrival at the shelter and found to be FIV positive. At the time we had only one other FIV positive cat, Giles, so the two were given their own space and became great friends, over the next couple of years we acquired another 6 FIV positive cats and with the extra funds raised by Ginger’s raffle (cat caught in a snare for 25 days) we had built them their own FIV enclosure and housing. We believe Winter contracted FIV (feline AIDS) from the feral colony but unless she had been tested one would not have known as she appeared healthy in every other respect. In 2019 she developed an eye problem which by 2020 became worse so we proceeded to try and raise funds for it to be seen to.

Through this newsletter a gentleman called Phil stepped forward to not only sponsor her operation but also the Vet/Specialist consultations beforehand, and not only for Winter but also several other cats who also needed medical attention. In the photos you will see Winter just after the operation with the stitches still in and then later a post op photo. At the time of the eye operation it was also found that she had a growth beneath her tongue and her molars were causing her problems when eating so the molars were removed and a sample of the mass sent off for a biopsy. It came back as benign tho’ it continued growing. Her original operation gave her a new lease on life and she was given more freedom on the property and was simply locked up at night. Her quality of life for the next nearly a year was great. She loved human interaction which she got on a daily basis, however cancer developed over the last few weeks and she passed away peacefully in her sleep in her little cocoon lying on her hot water bottle on Saturday morning 5th June. May she rest in peace. She will be sorely missed by all of us but now she’s in a safe place with many of her past buddies.

Then we have Schweppes as seen in the photo. She has Symblepharon, which is when the conjunctiva adheres to the adjacent conjunctiva or the cornea and she has double Symplepharon in the one eye. I had her at the Animal Eye Hospital last Tuesday 1st June and the Specialist feels that as she still has a small amount of sight that it is worthwhile operating but only once she is older and spayed which will be in 2 months which gives me time to try and raise the funds for her operation. She is not currently in pain but has to be given eye-drops 6 times a day which she is not too happy about. But how can you resist that little face! This photo and 2 videos were taken of her on Sunday, such a joy to live. I have been quoted R5500 for the operation so any donations would be very appreciated. I have to date paid her consultation fee out of my own pocket. Donations can either be paid to me or to the Jhb Animal Eye Hospital direct using the reference “FOF Schweppes”. Please contact me for their bank details.

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Donations to: 

J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Ben. Ref: “CG + cell number”

Or

Friends of Ferals
FNB
a/c no. 627 5435 9852
Branch: 250 655
Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number”                        

Proof of payments to either:  Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com                 

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

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FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER 1 JUNE 2021

Again KITTENS: We are nearing the end of kitten season but still have 6 of our rescue kittens available for adoption and I do not want them to grow up in the shelter instead of a loving home with their own family. Please share and spread the word.

Mowgli (male) and Akela (female) pure black siblings now 16 weeks of age, both bottle fed babies, are in the main house of the shelter so also well socialised.

Skittles: a very loving and inquisitive little girl also 16 weeks and now in the main house so well socialised.

Cola: our youngest of about 13 weeks, a female Calico, also a bottle fed kitten and the last in her litter. A spunky and talkative cutie pie.

All kittens are available for meets and greets.

Donations: Yes, our food bin just inside the Pick’nPay in the Lonehill Shopping Centre has still been fairly empty this week, however, one of our adopters and supporters, Tracy, did a blanket drive in her complex and I was overwhelmed with the response. I received a huge box of used blankets and beds, also new blankets with more to come as well as dishes and bowls all of which are much needed by our shelter housing over 90 cats. Thank you Tracy and your complex. Also thank you to Carole of Carole’s Cat Chronicles for your donations.

Dharma and Davey featured last week and seen here in the video playing: Davey loves tummy rubs and human interaction, he has a loving nature and big heart. Dharma like her brother is very small but makes up for it with confidence and catitude. She also enjoys human company and will gladly snuggle up with you. Both currently in foster care and well socialised.

Play Video

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Donations to: 

J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Ben. Ref: “CG + cell number”

Or

Friends of Ferals
FNB
a/c no. 627 5435 9852
Branch: 250 655
Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number”                        

Proof of payments to either:  Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com                 

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

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CAROLE’S CAT CHRONICLES 26 MAY 2021

LEAPING FROG CATS
Here is a picture of Mummy cat. She lives in the middle of the shopping centre together with the black cat that I showed last week, sitting on the white wicker chair. As you can see she has just eaten and is licking her lips. Thank you Julie for this lovely shot taken whilst you were feeding this week. Mummy cat is probably now 12 years old. (I remember rescuing her kittens to be homed rather than grow up in an uncertain future),and getting her sterilized many years ago.

VOLUNTEERS

I am lucky to have some great ladies who take time out once a week for half an hour to feed these homeless cats. Without these volunteers it would be impossible for me to look after these cats on my own. I am really grateful to have such a wonderful team backing me. We are always looking for extra help so if you would like to contribute your time once a week, please contact me on 0824242363.

Carole
0824242363

DONATION

Thank you to the person who donated this large bag of Ultra cat this week. My donation bin is at VET TO PET in the Lonehill shopping centre. If you can donate soft food in pouches or cat pellets, please drop them off at Vet to Pet. All donations are welcome now winter has set in.



Mommy Cat
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FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER 26 MAY 2021

KITTENS: 
I would love to try and get some of our teenage and adults cats adopted but we still have several kittens who I do not wish to grow up in the shelter especially those who have been in foster care and know what it is like to be in a loving home.

Dharma and Davey two petite kittens are now 16 weeks old and going for their booster shots and 1st rabies tomorrow. They are negative for FIV and FeLV. They are super playful and yet both with quite different characters. Davey loves tummy rubs, very energetic and interactive. Dharma with her beautiful markings is gentle, loves cuddles and is very curious about everything. The bonus, of course, is if they could find a home together. Potential adopters are welcome to visit them.

 

Then big thanks to Leanne for adopting Soba (see video of below the first few minutes of Soba in her new home). Soba was one of our teenage kittens and initially Leanne was looking for a much younger kitten but once she saw how playful and loving Soba was her mind was changed and they immediately bonded.

Schweppes our little grey female was adopted at the weekend by Tamaryn who had fallen in love with Dharma who is in foster care but when visiting the shelter she saw Schweppes who immediately jumped onto her lap for cuddles and has never left her side since. This is a true rescue adoption of a special needs kitten. Schweppes, Tamaryn and myself have an appointment with the Animal Eye Hospital early next week to find out whether Schweppes has any sight at all in her right eye, as to whether it is causing her any pain or discomfort, and as to whether it needs to be removed. This procedure will of course be for our account and the Vet bills are mounting up.

Donations:
our empty food bin just inside the Pick’nPay in the Lonehill Shopping Centre has been very empty most days for the past couple of weeks. To those who have donated a huge thanks. It is now truly winter and likely to get colder and the cats tend to eat far more in winter so please continue to donate. At this time of year I like to buy polar fleece by the metre or off-cuts to make small blankets for the kittens.  So if anyone has this polar fleece (I get mine from Chamdor in off-cut sizes of approx. 150 x 100cm which costs R45 which makes 2 and a half blankies which I then have hemmed and sewn up) and is willing to donate it, I can get the blankets made up.

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Donations to: 

J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Ben. Ref: “CG + cell number”

Or

Friends of Ferals
FNB
a/c no. 627 5435 9852
Branch: 250 655
Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number”                        

Proof of payments to either:  Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com                 

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

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FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER 18 MAY 2021

This week on a happier note some of our HAPPILY HOMED cats and kittens, all of them from rags to riches.

MOJO, our long-haired ginger boy was born to a feral mom in the roof of a house. We managed to trap the mom and his sister, Mila, on the 3rd day but there was no sign of Mojo who was then about 6 weeks old and still suckling from his mother, Medusa. We went back for a further 3 days and feared the worst. We had left the trap (via a ladder) on the roof but the food was untouched – so one last try – et voila, he appeared and went into the trap. Medusa to this day is unapproachable and at that time, although the little family was kept in one of the cattery mews, you could not get close to the kittens without Medusa attacking you. So Mojo and Mila were not socialised and eventually went into one of the large enclosures with some of the other cats where it was far easier to interact with them. This, I was able to do before COVID Lockdown when I was up at the shelter for 8 hours 3 times a week. I got to the stage of being able to pet, stroke, brush and pick up both of them for a few seconds but since Lockdown I feared they had regressed! Then one of our visitors fell in love with Mojo and he interacted well with her at the shelter and she was prepared to work with him at home. See the video taken on Sunday after only 4 weeks, he has now been adopted by her. Mila is still at shelter but with several others to keep her company.

DOVE, due to the virus being a potential killer of unvaccinated kittens, was vaccinated at 6 weeks of age but I still wanted her away from the shelter. At only 7 weeks of age I homed her locally on Thursday. Her first 24 hours from her mom were difficult for her and she had to be kept occupied 24/7. Thank goodness they sleep more than they are awake but she is now fine and is adapting to her new life making best friends with the resident Dachsie.

DANNY, yes this was originally Danni but re-sexed just before homing and now called Danny, a boy. On Friday he went from foster care with his siblings to being an only kitten but with 3 young girls to keep him occupied. I homed him on Friday so he had the whole weekend to keep the children up all night with his antics. See the video of our grey and white boy.

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Donations to: 

J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Ben. Ref: “CG + cell number”

Or

Friends of Ferals
FNB
a/c no. 627 5435 9852
Branch: 250 655
Ben. Ref: “CG + Cell number”                        

Proof of payments to either:  Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com                 

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

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CAROLE’S CAT CHRONICLES 19TH MAY 2021

DONATIONS.

I collected these donations during the past 10 days.  There was also two bags of Catmore left in the donation bin.  I am delighted to receive these donations as June and July can be very cold months and the cats will need these good quality cat food pellets.  Royal Canin and Hills especially.  Thank you very much to those of you who donated.

Carole
0824242363

In the middle of the Leaping Frog Centre a Charity shop has opened.  People bring their unwanted items and leave them to be sold.  I think the name of the Charity is Our Daily Bread.  Its next door to Horsemans Haven and the Chinese take away.  This picture shows BB one of the Leaping Frog cats sitting on a chair left to be sold.  She certainly looks jolly comfortable.  I took this picture on Saturday when I went to feed her and the other three that live together in this area of the centre.  I have been feeding them for over 9 years now.  Thankfully, with regular good quality food, they are all healthy cats.  

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FERAL CATS, RESCUES AND OTHER 11 MAY 2021

ADOPTIONS: Approved adoption applications and home-checks apply.

Our adoption fee of R850 covers 1st vacs and boosters as well as 1st rabies, deworming, deflea, and sterilization when done by one of our nominated Vets.

Donations to:             

J David Cats Galore
Standard Bank
Branch code: 051001
Cheque a/c no. 002982846
Ben. Ref: “CG + cell number”

Proof of payments to either:  Judy 083 611 1333 or judy.e.david@gmail.com

Judy
Judy.e.david@gmail.com

Once again our Vet bills for the shelter, Friends of Ferals, are back up well over the R12,000 mark and this is apart from the Vet bills that I, myself, have to pay for the shelter cats and kittens brought down to the Lonehill and Fourways areas. The regular vets I am using are Lonehill Vet, Palm Gardens Vet, Paulshof Vet, Olivedale Vet and Blue Bush, and for out of hours, Animania. I would like to thank all these vets for being so accommodating and assisting with special rates. Apart from Animania I currently owe amounts to each of the afore-mentioned Vets. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

PANLEUKOPENIA IN GAUTENG: The shelter is presently in “Lockdown”. Yes, the cats also have to go through this but not because of COVID. There is currently an often deadly feline virus doing its rounds in the Gauteng area, highly contagious Panleukopenia, which mainly affects unvaccinated cats. So young kittens not having yet been vaccinated are very vulnerable as they have no protection and their own immune systems have not fully stepped in, however, unvaccinated adult cats are also at risk. Panleukopenia is one of the core vaccines in the 1st vacs, booster vacs and annual vacs and generally the kittens get vaccinated at 8 weeks of age and then a booster vacs 4 weeks later however we are currently vaccinating all the kittens at 6 weeks of age though any kittens with snuffles or any other health problems can obviously not be vaccinated until they are healthy.  For the moment we dare not allow people to the shelter for fear of them bringing in the virus. Fortunately all those feral cats trapped myself and sterilised over the years have always been vaccinated at time of sterilisation. I strongly suggest all cat owners to get their cats vaccinated if either they have never had vaccinations or if not vaccinated in the past 3 years. This should safe guard your cats and those possibly in complexes.

KITTENS UP FOR ADOPTION: We have a trio of sibling kittens; Dharma (female), Danni (female) and Davey (male) all in foster care, all had their 1st vaccinations and will receive their boosters before being homed. These photos and the video were taken yesterday.

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CAROLE’S CAT CHRONICLES 4 MAY 2021

LEAPING FROG CATS

One of the volunteers took this lovely shot of BOY and I would like to share it together with two more pictures of TABBY GIRL, and SNOWY. Tabby girl lives in the middle of the shopping centre with three other cats. They have formed a separate colony away from Boy and Snowy. Snowy has been around for only about 5 months. He appeared out of nowhere and is not really accepted by the other cats.

Colonies are notoriously well known for chasing away outsiders. I don’t know if this is a lost or abandoned cat. The ears do not appear to be clipped which indicates a sterilized feral. I feel very sorry for him as he may once have had a home. I wrote about him some months back and put a picture in the Chronicles. No one has reported this cat missing and no one has claimed him. We are feeding him but he doesn’t always show up on a regular basis.

Boy
Tabby Girl
Snowy

DONATIONS

I was happy to see some food donations at Vet to Pet in the red bin last week. As well as pellets, Ultra Cat and Royal Canin, there was also a tin of pilchards and a pouch of soft food (these have been eaten already). The cats love these treats!  All donations are so welcome, especially during winter as the cold weather means hungry cats. Thank you to those of you who donated.

VOLUNTEERS

I am fortunate to have a group of ladies who help me feed our homeless cats once a day.  Each volunteer has a dedicated day.  Even so, I am still looking for an additional person to help with feeding one day a week. If you can help me, please give me a call at 082 424 2363.  I will supply the food.  

FINANCIAL DONATIONS

If you would like to make a once off donation, or a monthly donation, here are the banking details:

STANDARD BANK
FOURWAYS CROSSING
A/C 204949270
MRS C. BARRETO
Homeless cat Project
Please use your name as a reference

Carole
0824242363
caroledike@gmail.com